Home Bar Design: Just in Time for the Holidays!

We are entering the peak holiday entertaining season which means when friends and family come over, we have to be ready to make cocktails! Getting your home bar ready is no easy task.

“The home bar is one of the pinnacles of domestic luxury. Enjoyed by all those fortunate to have one, it is the ultimate in-home hangout spot.” – 25 Stunning Home Bar Design Ideas, The Spruce. Yes, dedicating a room or space for your in-home bar is on the wish list for many of my clients, but also creating spaces to set up a bar area can also be an interesting design challenge.

There are many ways to make a built-in bar area a feature within your home. Design magazines are showing stunning bars in bar rooms – but also in closets, hallways and butler’s pantries. In this case, you have the luxury of a spacious home bar, but also the responsibility to create a fully stocked bar that will satisfy just about any of your guests drinking whims.

For some of my clients, a dedicated space for a bar is not an option. I have seen clever adaptations where bars can be created in many innovative ways. Elle Decor, in their piece Turn Your Console into a Makeshift Bar, offers these easy steps: “1. Place a tray on top of the table to hold bottles. 2. Line-up glasses beside the spirits. 3. Fill an ice bucket (or a bowl) with ice. 4. Also, fill a small bowl with lemon and lime wedges. 5.Top-off the glamorous spread with a vase of fresh flowers or foliage.” Here are a few inventive and space saving inspirational photos to get you started.

Basic Bar Set Up

I am sharing this great pictograph and article from Gentlemen’s Gazette on Home Bar Essentials – How to Stock a Bar  which covers just about all you need for your bar set up – right down to the toothpicks!

Time for Some Cocktails!

It’s showtime!! After getting your bar set up, you have to be ready to put this investment to use. My cocktail repertoire typically begins and ends with a vodka and tonic. As I am not certain of the proper proportions or glassware to use, I have been thinking about taking a class in mixology at the Institute for Culinary Education in NYC. They actually have a wide range of courses from couples classes (there is one on Valentines Day :)) to serious bartending skills. But without investing that much time, My Domaine offers 7 Beautiful and Delicious Holiday Cocktails recipes that are easy to follow and aesthetically appealing!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!!